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Thursday, February 19, 2009

NEW BRITAIN — Ned Lamont, the Fairfield businessman who in 2006 challenged Joe Lieberman for his U.S. Senate seat, upbraided Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her budget Wednesday. He spoke on the state of the Connecticut economy at Central Connecticut State University.

While he also spoke of his support for President Barack Obama, his disappointment in Rell’s budget stood out.

“We’re not bankrupt, but we’ve been flat as a pancake for a generation,” he said of the state economy.

Unlike Rell, who has flat-funded education, Obama has proposed increased spending for priorities such as education and health care, he said.

“We haven’t added any new jobs and many young people are leaving,” Lamont said of Connecticut.

He called her budget — $38.3 billion over two years with cuts meant to correct predicted billion-dollar deficits — a smattering of quick fixes with little in the way of important changes.

Pointing out the projected deficits for the next several years, he said the need for change at the Capitol should be obvious.

“This is the time for Connecticut to make the big changes that are so long overdue,” Lamont said. “We as a country and we as a state have consistently underestimated the scale of the issues and crisis in front of us.”

Rell recommended that people turn out lights when leaving their offices and not travel out of state as a way of paying down the deficit. Lamont hit at her intention to borrow against the state’s rainy-day fund.

“Her plan is extraordinarily shortsighted, and you young people should be outraged because they’ve borrowed against your future,” he said to the students.

Lamont, who was made a distinguished professor of political science and philosophy, said the university arts and sciences public policy committee he leads will be looking at ways to fix the economic problems and get the state going again.

“We’re going to take a look at this deficit and look at it in a serious way and hopefully present an alternative to the governor that will prepare the state for when we’re on the back side of this depression and get the state rolling again,” he said.

Lamont said he was not considering a run for either the governor’s seat or a senate seat.

For Brian McKeown, a sophomore among the crowd who supported Lamont in his senate bid, the talk was enlightening.

“I supported him then, and I guess if he ran again I’d support him again,” McKeown said before the talk.

As to the economic problems with the rest of the country, Lamont said the Obama plan will work and Americans will come through these hard days.

“If you look at the great presidents of all time and you look what was confronting Lincoln and you look what was confronting Franklin Roosevelt and you look at what is confronting Barack Obama and you realize something,” he said. “This country will get by. We sometimes stumble, but we’re going to get past this and make sure our country and our state make the right decisions.”

Greenwich, Connecticut home sales plunged 84 percent in January from a year earlier as Wall Street losses mounted and financial companies cut jobs, said John Cooke, a broker with Prudential Connecticut Realty.

Seven Greenwich homes sold in January compared with 44 the same month of 2008, according to Prudential data. The average price climbed 5 percent to $3.4 million, driven by the sale of one $10 million property.

“Buyers are hesitant because of the economy in general,” Cooke said. “They don’t think the bottom has happened yet.”

The town of about 61,000 people lies an hour’s drive northeast of Manhattan and is known as the nation’s hedge fund capital because more than 100 such companies are based there. The median home price in Greenwich dropped the most in three decades last year as demand from financiers slumped.

January sales included one house sold for more than $5 million, compared with six in that price range in the same period in 2008. Two properties sold for between $3 million and $4 million; two for $2 million to $3 million; one for $1 million to $1.5 million; and one for between $400,000 and $600,000.

Property sales in Greenwich are closely linked to the fortunes of Wall Street and the financial industry, Cooke said.

At least half of the town’s sales are to buyers who work in financial services, he said.

Many of my colleagues who berate me for my “negativism” will, if pressed even a little bit, readily admit that the Greenwich housing market is in the toilet, and why shouldn’t they? That’s the truth. And here’s another truth: for at ...

Thanks to a reader I was reminded to check out “Seeking Alpha” and this article by a James Quinn. Fun bedtime reading and if you want to stay up tonight, take a gander at this chart from Shiller. Bummer......

DID CHRIS FOUNTAIN'S BLOG POSTS CAUSE REGIS A MILLION Buck-A-ROOS?

Or As Regis Might Say:

"Come on people, you know what I am Talking about .... Dough. Moolah, Greenbacks, C-Notes, Bacon, Bread ..... I Am Taling About Cold Hard Cash. That I Am Not Going To Get When I Finially Sell My House. I Keep Asking My Realator Salesperson Why My House Is Losing SOOOOO Much Money And All Keep Hearing About Is Some Darn Blogger Named Chris Fountain ...... Who The Heck Is Chris Fountain And Why Is He Costing Me So Much Money !!!!!! I Don't Understand These Bloggers...... Why Are They Going Around And destroying Peoples Houses !!!!! There Ought To Be A Law Against This Crap !!!!!"

ALL GREENWICH REPORTERS AND EDITORS HAD BETTER THINK TWICE BEFORE OPENING THOSE GREENWICH PUBLIC SCHOOL ATTACHMENTS IN THE EMAILED PRESS RELEASE

W97M/Marker Virus

Information about W97M/Marker virus:

W97M/Marker (also known as HSFX) is a Word macro virus that collects user information from Word and uses FTP to send it over the internet. The virus is similar to W97M/Caligula. Like Caligula, it sends the data over to codebreakers.org. It also has some similarities to WM/Ethan.

W97M/Marker is polymorphic. The polymorphism consists of adding a log at the end of the virus body for every infected user. This log contains information for system time, date, users name and address.

The virus contains an infection marker in the beginning of its code:

"

W97M/Marker.A saves its in a file called c:\netldv.vxd. To infect documents the virus export its code from global template to this file and after that deletes the file, so the user can't find it.W97M/Marker.O

W97M/Marker-O is a modified variant of W97M/Marker virus. It is a Polymorphic Word macro virus. The polymorphism consists of adding a log at the end of the virus body for every infected user. This log contains information for system time, date, users name and address.

The virus contains an infection marker in the beginning of its code ":-D you are Marked!". The original W97M/Marker will contain the string "

RYE - An illegal turn led to the arrests of two men and a teen on theft charges Tuesday.

Police said the occupants of a car threw a wallet out a window as a cruiser followed them around the block after an illegal left turn at Elm Place and Purchase Street at 3:30 p.m.

The wallet had been stolen from a New Rochelle man hours earlier and had not yet been reported, Lt. Joseph Verille said.

Police said they also found merchandise stolen from a Greenwich, Conn., CVS in the car. Verille said Greenwich police are pursuing the shoplifting case.

Joseph Dantzler, 31, and Shanwand Parham, 32, both of Brooklyn, were charged with felony and misdemeanor criminal possession of stolen property, and with acting in a manner injurious to a child under 17, another misdemeanor.

The teen, on probation from an assault charge in Brooklyn, was charged as a juvenile with possession of stolen property. He was taken to Woodfield Cottage juvenile detention center after his mother would not pick him up, Verille said.

First Selectman Peter Tesei presented a plaque commemorating the Fire Department's achievement and Paul Sullivan, CEO of the Connecticut Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross, thanked all participants for their life-saving donations.

Owner denies giving drugs to pet chimpSTAMFORD -- Sandra Herold, owner of the 200-pound chimp that mauled her friend Monday in the driveway of her North Stamford home, stopped giving interviews Wednesday after she made what appears to be conflicting statements about whether she gave her pet Xanax just before the attack.Full Story

Representatives from education, hospital and non-profits kept up the pressure for moderate-income housing for town employees last night.Full Story

UConn steamrolls ProvidencePROVIDENCE -- Every game is not going to be a masterpiece for the UConn women's basketball team. As much as it tries to attain perfection each time it takes the court, it just isn't possible. Full Story

Dem questions Rell retirement planHARTFORD -- State Comptroller Nancy Wyman on Wednesday questioned whether the governor's proposed retirement incentive program for state employees can be ready for April 1, the final quarter of the fiscal year.Full Story

Brunswick hockey team upends Kingswood-OxfordA four-goal second period propelled the Brunswick School hockey team to one big win Wednesday. Forwards Phil Sibereisen and Luke Esposito scored two goals apiece to power the Bruins to a much-needed 5-2 victory against Kingswood-Oxford School.Full Story

In townBush-Holley camp registration open Registration is open for this summer's Bush-Holley History and Art Camp for children in second through seventh grades.Full Story

Winter wine cocktails: A second life for unloved vintagesTribune Media I've never understood why spring cleaning gets all the attention. Whistling songbirds toting the latest high-tech scrub brushes as they flutter across the television screen can't hide what we're really talking about here -- spending a Sunday afternoon knee deep in moldy grout.Full Story

Teen dies in jump from school windowNEW YORK -- A teenager at a prestigious prep school where comedian Chevy Chase and actress Claire Danes studied jumped to his death from an 11th-floor window Wednesday as children played on the sidewalk below, police said.Full Story

Town car use always a sore pointThings are serious. The meltdown of the economy has not spared our fair community. The first staff dismissals at Town Hall have taken place, and officials are focused on finding further ways to reduce spending to offset the monstrous shortfall in income the town faces, and at the same time avoid burdensome tax increases.Full Story

Letters from Readers - Homeowner privacy invadedInternet data on homes would violate privacyTo the editor:I am in a state of shock. January's Board of Estimate and Taxation meeting was just on Channel 79, and our assessor presented his plan to place all land and house specifics on the Internet. Why in heavens name would you want floor plans, owner information, assessments, building characteristics, finished and unfinished areas, valuation history, comparable sales and liens on the Internet?

Letters to the Editor - Layoff experienceThe town's layoff procedure was disrespectfulTo the editor:On Feb. 12, I lost my job. Some may say, "Welcome to the club," and that would be OK. My problem is the way I lost it.

I worked for the town Engineering Division for 35 years, the last 25 as manager of field operations. First Selectman Peter Tesei had every right to terminate my job, but it could have been done with some respect.

That morning, we knew that some of us would lose our jobs. A few hours after I arrived, a police officer was in the room, and I was given papers with instructions on how to file for unemployment benefits and other information. I was directed to leave my keys and cellular phone, and told I would be escorted to my office to pick up my belongings and leave. I was not allowed to retrieve information from the phone. I was told to make an appointment to retrieve personal information on the computer and collect any other personal property.

Women's Golf plansWomen's golf plans The Bruce Women's Golf Association executive board recently began planning the coming season of weekly tournaments and special events.Full Story

Letters from Readers - town layoffsTown layoffs are unfortunate, but are necessaryTo the editor:I must praise First Selectman Peter Tesei and the town government for working so hard to keep Greenwich fiscally responsible in these tough economic times. The private sector has been doing these difficult layoffs for years to stay afloat.

On Tuesday, police received a report that a house on Juniper Lane was ransacked after someone shattered glass on a back patio door to gain entrance to the home, according to police.

Detective Timothy Powell, who heads the burglary clearance squad, said it was unclear what was missing. It was also unclear when the burglary took place, as the residents were away on vacation.

When Is Hearst Newspaper Reporter Debra Friedman Going To Have The Journalistic Balls To Put In A Freedom Of Information Request For The 2008 Crime Index Report For Greenwich.

Last June Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg Promised The Greenwich Time That He Would Release The Report To The Public Before The End Of 2008

The Single Family Homeowners And Small Businesses Keep Suffering Burglaries, While Greenwich Time Crime Reporter Debra Friedman Allows Ridberg To Keep The 2007 And 2008 Reports Under Lock And Key.

The Stamford Chief Of Police Released His Statistics, Even though Crime Was Up More Than 30% In Stamford.

The Two Previous Greenwich Police Chiefs Released The Data To The Taxpayers.

The Reports Before 2007 Are Still Available On The Internet.

For Example, In 2006 There Were Only 58 Burglaries In Town, But Week After Week Greenwich Residents Are Reading Reports Like This.....

On Monday, police also investigated reports of burglaries at two commercial properties, Powell said.

At 2 p.m., police responded to an interior design store on Elm Street on a report of an attempted burglary. Police believe the intruders entered through a window, but nothing was missing.

Powell said the same business was hit last December, resulting in the theft of laptop computers.

At 2:47 p.m., police received a report that a salon on the Post Road had been burglarized. Police said there were no signs of forced entry, but petty cash was missing.....Full Story

GOOD GOVERNMENT IS OPEN GOVERNMENT

IN PORT CHESTER THE CHIEF OF POLICE GIVES A WRITTEN MONTHLY REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND VILLAGE COUNCIL. THE REPORT IS BROADCAST OVER CABLEVISION AND CITIZENS MAY GET COPIES OF THE MONTHLY STATISTICS AND PUBLICLY MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE REPORT AT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING.

THE PORT CHESTER CHIEF OF POLICE WELCOMES THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK

WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THE SECRECY IN THE GREENWICH POLICE DEPARTMENT?

It is time to release the 2007 and 2008 Greenwich Crime Index Reports To The Single Family Homeowners Of Greenwich.

It is unethical for Ridberg to cherry pick items from a report that taxpayers are not allowed to see.

Chief Ridberg Has Whined That He Is "Shot" And "Overtaxed".

Maybe if he would release the 2007 and 2008 crime statistics, then Greenwich residents could help him with suggestions on how to make needed improvements.

As documented in Greenwich Time on Feb. 1 in his own words, the chief of police in Greenwich has suffered so much extra stress in his job over the last 18 months that he now describes himself as feeling "shot" on the job.

This is extremely scary news for the citizens and taxpayers of Greenwich that the leader of arguably the most important agency in town has suffered so much stress that he now describes himself that way.

Even scarier is the fact that the first selectman and police commissioner, Peter Tesei, is fully aware of the chief's self-described condition (stress is a well-documented medical/psychological condition), yet does not remove him immediately while he is evaluated and/or treated until he can be certified as "un-shot." The citizens and taxpayers deserve nothing less.

The ramifications of keeping a chief on the job who is "shot" due to an "overtaxing" job are far reaching for the town, its citizens and its taxpayers......

.....Officials said the promotion freeze on all positions above captain has strained the department, overtaxing the chief of police and causing the lieutenants below him to take on new responsibilities in order to shoulder some of the burden. .....

At That Time Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg admitted that he's prematurely rushed out the numbers and they are not really ready for prime time....

Ridberg told Hearst Newspaper Crime Reporter Martin Cassidy that he is still analyzing some of the data, and that a final version of the report is expected later in 2008.

Ridberg Never Released The Final Version

On More Than One Occassion Greenwich Roundup Has Had The Journalistic Balls To Point Out How Hearst Newspapers Are Giving Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg A Free Pass.

COMMENT:

The Greenwich Time Reporters Who Work For Hearst Newspapers Don't Have The Journalistic Balls To Go To Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg And Say, "Hey Chief, What Happened To Those Crime Statistics You Promised The Taxpayers Of Greenwich?

Greenwich Time Reporters Don't Have The Journalistic Balls To Hold Chief Ridberg Accountable To The Single Family Homeowners Of Greenwich.

When CT Senator Chris Dodd Promised And Did Not Deliver Documents To The Public About His Countrywide Loans Wall Street Journal Reporters Had The Journalistic Balls To Say,"Say Hey, Dodd Where Are Those Loan Documents."